Water Consumption Behavior Research Articles

Water consumption and wastage behaviour in pigs: implications for antimicrobial administration and stewardship

Daily water use and wastage patterns of pigs have major effects on the efficacy of in-water antimicrobial dosing events when conducted for metaphylaxis or to treat clinical disease. However, daily water use and wastage patterns of pigs are not routinely quantified on farms and are not well understood. We conducted a prospective, observational 27-day study of the daily water use and wastage patterns of a pen group of 15 finisher pigs reared in a farm building. We found that the group of pigs wasted a median of 36.5% of the water used per day. We developed models of the patterns of water used and wasted by pigs over each 24-h period using a Bayesian statistical method with the brm() function in the brms package. Both patterns were uni-modal, peaking at 1400–1700, and closely aligned. Wastage was slightly greater during hours of higher water use. We have shown that it is feasible to quantify the water use and wastage patterns of pigs in farm buildings using a system that records and aggregates data, and analyses them using hierarchical generalised additive models. This system could support more efficacious in-water antimicrobial dosing on farms, and better antimicrobial stewardship, by helping to reduce the quantities of antimicrobials used and disseminated into the environment.

Water Consumption Behavior of Households in Lahore

This paper focuses on the water consumption behaviour of residents of Lahore city. The consumption behaviour is linked with the attitude and meter tariff. Attitude is an internal trait of people while meter tariff is an external factor. Both influence consumption behaviour. There is a positive association between the independent and dependent variables. The policymakers can control water consumption by focusing on the attitude of people towards water consumption. The present attitude type of the people is anti-environment. The explanatory approach is used for the analysis and interpretation of data. The theory provided a systematic way for the analysis of the problem. This paper unfolds the perspective in the context of Lahore.
 Keywords: Domestic, Water Consumption, Attitude, Meter Tariff, Policymakers

Evaluating the performance of feature selection techniques and machine learning algorithms on future residential water demand

Abstract The provision of potable water as a severe challenge has engaged many people worldwide. So, identifying influential factors in water demand forecasting (WDF) for the residential sector performs a vital role in water crisis management. Nowadays, long-term macro-planning for vast geographical areas helps policymakers to achieve sustainable development goals. This study uses the same perspective to present a pattern for water consumption behavior and prediction. For this purpose, yearly residential water consumption data, along with climatic characteristics, and socioeconomic factors of rural areas of Isfahan, Iran, are aggregated. The feature selection task is conducted on the collected data using various machine learning (ML) methods along with a novel approach, forward selection based on smoothness index (FSSmI). Posterior to selecting features influencing residential water demand (WD), the raw data are analyzed using regression techniques, including multiple linear regression, support vector regression, and random forest regression. The employed methods show an improvement in the feature selection procedure and coefficient of determination as a result of implementing the FSSmI method. Based on the results, multiple linear regression and support vector regression gain 96% and 95% accuracy and less than 11% and 13% error respectively; it demonstrates the validity of forecasting methods.

Insights of School Water Consumption and Sanitation and Hygiene Practices among School Children in Dehiovita, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka

Developing access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices can reduce water borne diseases. The present study was carried out in the Dehiovita Zonal Educational zone under the Kegalle District from December 2018 to March 2019 to monitor existing facilities in schools, behavior among students, and for the sustainable development in water, sanitation, and hygiene at the schools. A semi-structured questionnaire was conducted covering students (n=500) from grade 7-13 in 15 schools through a random sampling technique. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software to compare the responses using graphical presentation. In terms of water consumption behavior, about 73% of respondents use water bottles. Of these, 73%, 43% accounted for using unsafe plastic bottles and 28% accounted for aluminum bottles. Most of the respondents, 50% mentioned that they use water bottles twice daily. In relation to the water purification method used, 45% of students use chlorinated water, whereas 36% do not have purified water. Only 36% of respondents do have a water supply. Regarding the issues of water supply, 62% of respondents stated that they have broken taps, and 54% responded on less treated water. Most respondents, 78% mentioned, that they are unsatisfied with the existing water. With regards to the sanitation behavior among students, 48% of students use the latrine twice while 32% of respondents use the latrine once a day. Most of the respondents, 88% mentioned that they do not use soap after toilet use. 78% of respondents mentioned that the existing sanitation facilities are unsatisfied. Regarding the issues associated with sanitation facilities in schools, 92% of respondents showed the unavailability of soap and 73% of respondents stated that they have old latrines, while 67% stated that there is no cleaning equipment. Given the consideration on menstrual hygiene management (MHM), the usage of sanitation facilities by female students, 28% of respondents use once daily and 26% do not use the sanitation facility. Regarding the issues associated with MHM, 91% of respondents showed that no napkins discarding facility, and 84% mentioned lack of a place to wash, while 72% of students stated the lack of water. In conclusion, it reveals that there exists a higher demand on awareness of water consumption, sanitation and hygiene practices at schools and awareness on disease spreading as there exists poor quality standards of water consumption and sanitation. Thus, it needs careful monitoring of management steps to uplift water consumption, hygiene, and sanitation. The study suggests strengthening school water, sanitation, and hygiene clubs at schools and focus on government funding for utility development.
 Keywords: Water consumption, School sanitation, Hygiene practices, Dehiovita, Menstrual hygiene management

Promoting the adoption of residential water conservation behaviors as a preventive policy to sustainable urban water management

As concerning with water insecurity driven by water scarcity threatens the lives and livelihoods of humanity worldwide, urban water demand management is focused on promoting residential water conservation behaviors (WCBs) as a critical policy response to water scarcity. However, urban water conservation initiatives cannot be successful unless households involve in residential WCBs voluntarily by adopting water curtailment and/or water-efficiency actions. Thus, understanding motivations and mechanisms underlying accepting these two types of WCBs and interpreting their distinctions are primary policy considerations to make sustainable water consumption behaviors. Hence, the purpose of this research was twofold: (1) To explore intentions to household adoption of water curtailment and water-efficiency actions, key corresponding determinants, and distinctions between them; and (2) To evaluate the capability and robustness of the Health Belief Model (HBM) to explain residential WCBs. The present research design was a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tehran, Iran. The outcomes from structural equation modeling indicated that: (1) Water curtailment intention was solely determined by self-efficacy and perceived benefits; (2) In addition to self-efficacy and perceived benefits, perceived severity, cues to action, and perceived barriers were significantly related to water-efficiency intention; (3) While only perceived susceptibility was not a significant determinant for water-efficiency intention, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, and cues to action could not significantly explain water curtailment intention; (4) Self-efficacy also emerged as the strongest predictive variable behind intentions to adopt both WCBs; (5) The perceived barriers had a negative significant relationship only with water-efficiency intention; and (6) The HBM could explain 72% and 61% of the variance in households’ intentions to adopt water curtailment and water-efficiency actions, respectively. These outcomes supported that the HBM could propose a reliable and practical heuristic theoretical framework to predict residential WCBs. Moreover, the findings confirmed significant differences among socio-psychological factors behind intentions to household adoption of both WCBs, which need to be addressed. The research results introduced numerous implications from theoretical and policy standpoints for improving residential WCBs.

EFFECTS OF WATER CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR ON AVAILABILITY OF DRINKING WATER IN FAISALABAD, PUNJAB PAKISTAN

The water consumption behavior is needed to be monitor to avoid the clean water scarcity. The proposed research is being conducted to assess the clean water consumption behavior of people. The nature of study was Quantitative. It is concluded that strong negative relationship exists between independent variables (Household Income, Large size of family, family type, Consumption behavior of water on different activities) and Dependent variables (Availability of Drinking Water). Results of the study also revealed the strong positive relationship between independent variable (Awareness regarding water) independent and dependent variable (Availability of Drinking Water). Keywords: Drinking Water Availability, Water Consumption Behavior, Water Related Awareness Water Consumption

Water consumption forecasting models – a case study in Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago)

Abstract Trinidad has undergone rapid urbanization over the past few decades. Urbanization is accompanied with an increase in the country's demand for water. The forecasting of water demand can give rise to a better understanding of water consumption behaviour across all sectors of economy and therefore aid in effective water demand management. This study compares the application of the seasonal ARIMA, exponential state space (ETS) models, artificial neural network (ANN) models and hybrid combinations of them in developing forecast models for all categories of water consumption for Trinidad. The best forecasting model was selected using the forecasting assessment criterion of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The forecasts were conducted until the end of December 2021. The results of the study show that hybrid model combinations are adequate in forecasting four out of the five categories and the single model, SARIMA, has been found suitable for the domestic category. Forecast plots revealed an increase in water demand until the end of 2021. The study also demonstrates the suitability of hybrid models for forecasting water demand for the island of Trinidad.

Water and Beverages Intake Among Workers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit worldwide in the early 2020, people were urged to alter their behavior to prevent disease spread, thus, led to change water intake. This study aimed to analyze water and beverage intake among health workers and general workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This study was a comparative descriptive study where the participants were 20–45-year-old health workers and general workers in Indonesia. Data collected included demographic, water and beverage intake, physical activity, nutrient intake, and body weight and height. All data collection was obtained online using self-reported questionnaire. Water intake data was collected for 7 days consecutively using a 7-day fluid record. There were 246 participants comprised of 102 (41.5%) general workers and 144 (58.5%) health workers who were analyzed in this study. All participants showed barely adequate intake of daily total fluid 1,882 (1,473–2,433) ml/day. Total fluid intake among general workers was 1,759 (1,447–2,396) ml/day, whereas in health workers it was slightly higher 1,939 (1,516–2,446) ml/day (p-value = 0.378). Among health workers who were highly exposed to patients with COVID-19 showed the highest percentage in drinking water adequately (20 participants, 60.6%) compared to health workers who worked under moderate (29 participants, 48.3%) and low (24 participants, 47.2%) level of exposure to patients with COVID-19. In conclusion, workers need to improve their daily fluid intake. This study also showed better behavior of water consumption among health workers compared to general workers despite of their strict personal protection equipment during working hour.

Physiological responses, water consumption, and feeding behaviour of lamb breeds fed diets containing different proportions of concentrate

The use of adapted breeds, such as Santa Ines, is of paramount importance for regions with high temperatures because they develop efficient mechanisms for heat dissipation. Furthermore, some breeds have physiological adaptations, such as more efficient mechanisms for the digestion of fibrous foods (e.g. Rabo Largo), which can reduce the harmful effects of semiarid environments. We studied the ingestive behaviour, water consumption, and physiological parameters during feeding of two native sheep breeds fed diets containing high (700 g/kg DM; HC diet) or low (300 g/kg DM; LC diet) percentages of concentrates, based on dry matter (DM). A total of 40 uncastrated male lambs (20 Rabo Largo [breed 1] and 20 Santa Ines [breed 2], with an average body weight of 16.68 ± 2.78 kg, and 19.29 kg ± 3.28 kg, respectively), were distributed in a randomised block design in a two-by-two factorial scheme (breeds × diets) with 10 repetitions. Santa Ines lambs consumed and ruminated DM (P = 0.029 for both) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF; P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively) more efficiently than RaboLargo lambs, while the latter showed an increase in respiratory rate (+19 breaths/min) and rectal temperature (+1.3 °C) compared to the Santa Ines lambs (P = 0.001). The HC diet negatively affected (P < 0.05) the feeding behaviour of the animals, reflecting the higher (P < 0.05) water consumption. The results showed that diets rich in concentrate negatively affected the thermoregulation of lambs. Santa Ines have greater feed and thermoregulatory efficiency than Rabo Largo lambs under conditions of heat stress in the feedlot.

Urban-Residential Water and Electricity Consumption Behavior: A Systematic Literature Review

Urban-Residential Water and Electricity Consumption Behavior: A Systematic Literature Review

An automatic energy saving strategy for a water dispenser based on user behavior

Nowadays, numerous public buildings provide water dispensers to supply drinking water which causes more energy consumption. A typical water dispenser periodically heats and cools the water to ensure that hot, warm, and cold water are always available for the user. However, this mechanism is inefficient because the users do not request hot and cool water continuously. Ideally, the boiling and cooling schedule should follow the demand pattern to save electricity consumption. When no demand, a water dispenser can enter a sleep mode.Therefore, this study presents an automatic energy-saving strategy for a water dispenser based on user behavior. The proposed system allows the water dispenser to automatically determine the appropriate time to heat, boil, and enter sleep mode based on user behavior. The proposed control strategy involves several steps. First, it collects historical data, analyzes water consumption behavior. The sensors installed in the water dispenser collect water consumption data. Second, this study applies Recurrent Neural Networks with Long-Short Term Memory to predict future water consumption. Finally, the proposed system utilizes the prediction result to determine heating, cooling, and sleep mode schedule.This study uses a water dispenser on a university campus as a prototype to test the proposed system. The effectiveness of the proposed system is measured by two factors, namely electricity consumption, and customer satisfaction. These two parameters are chosen because the proposed system should reduce electricity consumption while maintaining hot and cold water availability whenever needed. According to the simulation results, the proposed controlling strategy can reduce electricity consumption up to 28% monthly while maintaining a service level of 97%. This result shows that the proposed system is a good control system for water dispensers. By applying this controlling system, public buildings could reduce their energy bills without sacrificing their provision of drinking water.

Household water consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with COVID-19 cases

The use of existing water resources and sustainability problems as a result of global warming and climate change became an even bigger problem with the importance of hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this research, the water consumption behavior will be researched and the correlation between water consumption and COVID-19 case numbers will be investigated in Bursa, Turkey. The monthly mean water consumption for 758,500 domicile subscribers using the central tariff from 2018–2020 was calculated. Results obtained using the SPSS 23 IBM program observed a 20.18% increase in water consumption in Bursa in general during COVID-19. As Bursa province has both rural and industrial urban structures, when this increase is examined on a county basis, increase rates were 10% in regions with dense industry and mean 34% in rural areas. When the correlation between case numbers during the COVID-19 period (March 2020-January 2021) and water consumption is examined, a negative correlation is notable (Pearson-Correlation=-0.616). As the case numbers increased in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the reduction in water consumption may be explained by warnings to citizens to reduce water use through written and oral media due to reservoir fill rates falling below 5%. These results provide beneficial information revealing the effects of COVID-19 on water consumption behavior and use of water resources in urban and rural areas.

Midterm impacts of a water drought experience: evaluation of consumption changes in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract From late 2013 until the beginning of 2015, the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil, experienced a severe water shortage. During that period, economic incentives were implemented by the regional water provider in a successful attempt to reduce water consumption. We aimed to investigate whether such incentives, as well as the experience of a scarcity period itself, had a persistent impact on consumer behaviour after the water crisis was over. This study was conducted by means of a hierarchical linear model with three levels (HLM3) to verify if the reduction effect remained in the midterm and a regression using panel data to understand which factors influenced water consumption behaviour change before, during, and after the local severe water drought. The results indicate that the average water consumption level subsequent to the rain scarcity period was significantly lower than before and that, in addition to the economic incentives, the severity of the scarcity event explained the behaviour change verified in water consumption.

Predicting environmental behavior by relying on water consumption behavior based on environmental awareness, attitude and concern

Predicting environmental behavior by relying on water consumption behavior based on environmental awareness, attitude and concern

Habitual food, energy, and water consumption behaviors among adults in the United States: Comparing models of values, norms, and identity

Household consumption of food, energy, and water comprises a significant use of resources in the United States. National level authority-based policy tools and top-down systemic shifts have not been widely adopted, thus near-term changes in consumption are dependent upon the actions of individuals. However, typical policy tools intended to change voluntary behaviors rest on information provision, which has been shown to be largely ineffective in achieving necessary consumption shifts. Drawing from the values-beliefs-norms and values-identity-personal norms theories, we compare three models of values, norms, identities, and behaviors using data from a national survey of United States adults’ habitual food, energy, and water-related household consumption behaviors. Validated scales for four values (biospheric, altruistic, egoistic, hedonic), environmental self-identity, and three types of personal norms are explored in three structural equation models to interrogate their relationships with each other and behaviors that cross environmental resource domains. We find evidence to support the values-identity-personal norms model in which biospheric values are positively related to environmental self-identity and personal norms, environmental self-identity is related to personal norms, and personal norms are positively and directly related to food, energy, and water behaviors. While norms have been explored across a number of environmental contexts, environmental self-identity may be an additional means of appealing to individuals to make voluntary shifts in consumption in the absence of larger, more systemic changes.

Water consumption and environmental behavior of the residents in Lake Toba water catchment area, North Sumatra, Indonesia

One of seventeen points of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to provide clean water for at least 80% of the global population in 2025. Rural populations living surrounding Lake Toba water catchment area still utilize the lake water for daily use regardless of the susceptible decreasing water quality. This paper describes anthropogenic aspects affecting the water quality of Lake Toba that is consumed as the drinking water source by surrounding residents. The research used a quantitative approach by interviewing 130 household representatives from 3 regencies around the lake to calculate the water consumption and evaluate the water quality in 2018. In addition, this research also assessed the residents' behavior in managing household waste and wastewater. The result showed that the average water consumption is 86,93L/person/day. The majority of the respondents barely treat the water and feel satisfied with the water quality based on its color, turbidity, taste, and odor. On the contrary, the respondents have not adequately treated their domestic waste and household wastewater before being released to the lake, contributing to water pollution. Although most respondents are satisfied with the water quality, it is still needed to perform proper water treatment because the water quality of Lake Toba is reported as slightly up to heavily polluted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2019.

Understanding household water-use behaviour in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract Climate change, population growth and industrial activities continue to threaten water security, especially in the semi-arid regions. Demand management policies are essential in minimising the effects of acute water shortages. Such policies require information on household water consumption patterns and their behavioural practices. This study examines household water consumption behaviour and the adoption of water-efficient appliances in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study uses probit regression models to analyse survey data collected from 889 households during the period November 2017 to February 2018. Results show that while most households do not have water-efficient appliances installed in their homes, they do practise water-efficient behaviour. Older respondents as well as males and lower-income respondents are found to be more likely to practise efficient water-use behaviour. However, biographical variables do not generally influence the adoption of water-efficient appliances. These results are essential for policy-makers when formulating targeted water demand management policies. Thus, policy-makers should focus more on younger people, women and higher-income households when developing campaigns on efficient water-use behaviour.

What Matters in Piglets' Exposure to Antibiotics Administered through Drinking Water?

A number of drugs are given in drinking water in piglet farming, although this way of administering drugs leads to significant and uncontrolled variability in exposures. Three main explanations for this variability have been described in the literature: (1) the drinking behavior of animals, (2) the drug concentration in water, and (3) the inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. This article assesses the relative importance of these three sources of exposure variability for doxycycline and amoxicillin using pharmacokinetic simulations and by observing watering behavior, and analyzes the consequences of this exposure variability. The water consumption behavior was by far the most important factor as it led to a variation in exposures of up to a factor of 7 between piglets. The second most influential factor was the drug concentration in the drinking water with variations ranging from −43.3% to +48.7% at the beginning and the end of the pipeline. Finally, the between-individual variation in PK parameters depends on the drug, but had a low impact on exposure variability. In the most variable case (doxycycline), the mean ratio between the 10% less exposed and the 10% most exposed piglets varied from 3.7 without PK parameters variability to 6 with PK variability. For both drugs, this study also showed that only a small percentage of the piglets (36%) could be considered as well exposed in case of infection by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae or Pasteurella multocida. There may be some existing technical ways to reduce this important variability. However, their cost and ease of implementation merit examination.

Water Use Behavior in a Multicultural Urban Area in Sweden

The increasing world population and climate change are major concerns for the supply of water needs. Understanding user behavior facilitates the development of effective strategies of domestic water management. This research applied a questionnaire survey and data analysis methods to analyze the water consumption behavior of tenants in a multicultural urban area, dominated by immigrants of different ethnic origins, in the city of Växjö in Sweden. Results showed that the majority of the studied participants perceived themselves to be environmentally friendly. They reported to be engaged in water conservation activities quite often, but analysis showed that they did not have accurate perceptions of their water consumption. Positive attitudes towards water conservation and self-reported water conservation activities significantly but negatively influenced respondents’ actual water consumption, i.e., water consumption was higher. Subjective norms did not have a significant influence. The results also revealed that individual measurement and debit positively influenced, i.e., reduced, actual water consumption. Therefore, water management systems should include an individual measurement and debit system combined with a visualization system to enable tenants to monitor the quantity and cost of their water consumption.

Cape Town's “Day Zero” water crisis: A manufactured media event?

Day Zero was a purposefully designed narrative in political communication to change middle-class water consumption behaviour in a highly visible metropolitan context of persistent drought. As an “affective fact”, however it didn't so much elicit panic, but elicited a sense of fun and social solidarity in many.The unfeasibly precise prediction of water ‘running out’ the campaign obscured scientific uncertainties. In this context the contribution considers the role of ‘public’ scientists as highly visible authorities reinforcing or nuancing the Day Zero narrative. While the crisis narrative inevitably showed up rifts in South Africa's social fabric, and triggered protests against an underlying everyday crisis of water penury for marginalised urbanites.Our perspective is informed by documentary and press analysis, as well as a Focus Group Discussion with the South African National Press Club held on October 31, 2019.